Friday Morning Coffee

Whatever we may think about the lack of mainstream media reporting about the events that led up to Julie Anne getting triggered to Greensplain to the dopey Nat, and no matter what we think about Luxon's failure to take any disciplinary action with Winston Peters as the clock ticks on stable government - the political management of the two issues stands out like canine testicles.

The Greens made no excuses, accepted the cop, said it was not acceptable, took disciplinary action, said it was never going to happen again and did everything right, especially Chlöe who was "booming it" ( lol ).

By contrast Luxon dragged his knuckles in fast motion - bounding forward to say three things.

1. Get with the rough and tumble of politics Bob ya big sook.

2. Dude you are alone on this Winston, not something I would say.

3. The bro is doing it dope man. He's doing an exceptionally good job my man.

On one hand you have a responsible copybook display of PR Crisis management - restoring confidence and ensuring accountability that the problem has been properly addressed while on the other you have a failure to acknowledge potentially defamatory statements have been made - worse than thought "being nothing more than a puppet for the Chinese" but the later added and redacted ( by RNZ ) comments from Peters - which - according to Clint Smith - implied Bob was also in the pocket of the Chinese.

Yes I know, it's bad.

Which is far more serious in my mind than many first thought and not just a game - and no there is real government risk and questions about bad government enter the public debate.

Luxon is bad at this, in a nutshell.

He is a terrible leader who is powerless to lead in a three party MMP Government - because he will not risk an election by shaking Wintson's tree.

His response to the Drunkle BlabberMouth Crisis was to blow it off as a nothing - call Bob's bluff and throw it back in his face, while exiting the hell out of the room, and adding nice Job mate to the exit.

In other words Luxon was getting the hell out of dodge, like see ya would not wanna be ya - it's bye bye from Luxon and hello to Winston who Luxon just passed the potato - and then Luxon fled out of town...knowing by morning a Posse may be on his trail.

That gave him breathing space to be coached about what to say to media today.

National also got Erica to help blow things off - saying she was sure Luxon would not be at all bothered about this trivial matter.

Nothing to see here - but we all saw the letter this morning.

Bob followed through and now a posse saddled up and headed out in hot pursuit of the coward PM.

The point is the three way model and combination of Winston's experience and Luxon's naiveté means this coalition is unstable and making bad decisions while dragging down New Zealand.

Bad Government.

So there is that and as Craig Renney said - Winston needs conflict to survive - which explains why he attacked the media for the first two days of this Government - so his antivaxer constituency would think he's still the one, still the one they run to, still the one they strum to.

But the cost is a very unhappy cabinet, full of masks and fake smiles, evasion, leaking, public biting on one's own hand, and an inherent mechanism to facilitate bad behaviour without any real lid on that.

Yes, I am glad you agree. A quiet Winston out of the limelight is an unhappy Winston. It's always show time. Roll out the defamation cos Luxon is going to be most concerned with avoiding the fire.

Of course there's lots else happening but I thought I'd write about those things separately.

On the topic of what triggered Julie Anne - the inside word is JAG gets into trouble when trying to explain or educate someone who stubbornly refuses to learn the facts. This involves accepting that some people will never ever see what you see - and letting it go.

I have not heard what triggered her - so if you have please comment below - but there is a curious fact about the way these events that led up to "crossing the floor" have universally been edited out of public sight by every newsroom in New Zealand.

It's like a State Secret and although Doocey ain't saying much he is saying he was taken back and - one wonders why the clampers have gone onto - his possible part in the event?

That's most of what I wanted to say over one coffee.

What do you think?

Friday Morning Coffee

Morena

G